A cruel bailiff with several guards and a wagon is here to collect taxes.
Simple encounter tables for farmlands in any fantasy setting. Tables for Farmland Encounter Prompts, Farmland Hazards & Distractions and Quick Farmland NPCs.
Fantasy Hinterlands - trinkets | farmland encs | all
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Fantasy Farmland Encounters
Farmland encounters might be farmers inviting the group to join them for a feast, a group of bandits supported by the locals or people gathering to sing to the crops. There might a distressed cow caught in deep mud or a nest of angry wasps.
A place of fields full of crops, rolling hills grazed by goats, scattered villages and outlying farmsteads. A place of gloomy farmers, talkative shepherds, carefree pedlars and maybe a halfling herbalist.
There is a fantasy encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Farmland Encounters.
10 Farmland Encounter Prompts
| 1d10 | 10 Farmland Encounter Prompts |
|---|---|
| 1 | A patrol of militia is passing through, checking rumours of a monster. |
| 2 | A finely dressed scholar and their large bodyguard are asking about old stories. The locals are wildly speculating on who they really are. |
| 3 | A family of farmers is heading to a nearby farm where a special bread has been baked. Invite group along to join a traditional feast. |
| 4 | A fortune teller's tent has a queue of locals wanting advice. |
| 5 | A wandering minstrel has a colourful cloak many tales. They are here to take part in a ritual where the locals sing to the crops. |
| 6 | A group of cunning bandits is supported by the locals and watches for an opportunity to ambush (or swindle) the group. |
| 7 | A cruel bailiff with several guards and a wagon is here to collect taxes. |
| 8 | A pair of giants are trying to be stealthy, as they are planning on stealing cows. Are carrying trees they try to hide behind. |
| 9 | A powerful mage has bought some land and is currently surveying it. Knows little of farming but has retired here for peaceful life. |
| 10 | A mounted noble with servants and guards searches for old ruins. |
Farmland Hazards and Distractions
| 1d10 | There is (or are)... |
|---|---|
| 1 | a field of burning crops or a nest of angry wasps |
| 2 | something out of place here... d10 (1-2. an ornate statue 3. an advertisement 4. an observatory 5. a pavilion tent 6. an armoured wagon 7. a baby in a basket 8. a dinosaur 9. a lost tourist 10. stack of books ) |
| 3 | heavy rain and risk of flooding or a pair of thieving magpies |
| 4 | a distressed cow (or pony) caught in a hole (or deep mud) |
| 5 | there is the strong smell of ... d10 (1-2. manure 3. cider 4. something burning 5. dead animals 6. flowers 7. rotten fruit 8. lemons 9. hay 10. cooking meat) |
| 6 | unusually hot (or cold) weather or a temporary local market |
| 7 | stampede of farm animals or glowing lights on a nearby hillside |
| 8 | sounds of ... d10 (1-2. a heated dispute 3. a hunt 4. distressed animals 5. music 6. thunder 7. wolves 8. a celebration 9. bellowing animals 10. a bell) |
| 9 | a sign warning of dogs or strong winds and hail |
| 10 | a strange and unique local festival involving cheese (or bees) |
Quick Farmland NPCs
| 1d10 | Descriptor | Profession | who... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | gloomy or dwarf | farmer | has family everywhere |
| 2 | halfling or serene | pedlar | has a gift for a character |
| 3 | friendly or grumpy | bandit | has an old war wound (or dog) |
| 4 | lycanthrope or ragged | herbalist | talks about leylines (or faeries) |
| 5 | vulgar or faerie | labourer | offers them homemade drinks |
| 6 | carefree or elderly | smith | is looking for work (or revenge) |
| 7 | restless or beast-kin | priest | loves gossip (or bad jokes) |
| 8 | half-human or rugged | hedge wizard | is in league with local bandits |
| 9 | quarrelsome or elf | vagabond | always talks in terms of weather |
| 10 | talkative or humble | herder | is with a herd of goats (or pigs) |
More Encounters
There is a fantasy encounter generator at ChaosGen. There is also a pdf of these and more tables at the DriveThruRPG as Farmland Encounters.
If you liked these there are Fantasy Generators at Chaos Gen, a monthly random tools Newsletter and an instagram of Random Tables.
